Fresh Dew Media

 19^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “NEARER TO THE EUCHARIST, NEARER TO GOD”

INTRODUCTION:

One of the most prominent converts to the Catholic faith of the last century was Cardinal Henry Newman of England; a highly paid leader of the Anglican Church. Up to the last hour before his conversion and reception into the Catholic Church, his friends continued to persuade him not to take the step. As a last push to dissuade him from joining the Catholic faith, his friends reminded him to think of what he will lose or forfeit if he leaves the Anglican Church; he will forfeit his income of four thousand pounds per year (about $20,000 that time). But to this last plea, Newman replied; “what are four thousand Pounds when compared to one Holy Communion!” We can also say today that one Holy Communion brings us nearer to God than four thousand Pounds.

 

THE FIRST READING (1 KG. 19: 4 – 8)

In the first reading, the Eucharist is prefigured in the bread God sent down from heaven for Elijah to eat. God invited Elijah and said to him; “arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.” Elijah ate and drank and walked in the strength of the food/bread for forty days and forty nights. In the Eucharist also lies an indefatigable strength for our spiritual and life journey. It is also God who gives and invites us to the Eucharist, lest our journey will be too difficult. Like Elijah, we should accept God’s offer and invitation to the Eucharist, knowing too well that God has always meant well for us no matter what we are passing through like Elijah.

 

THE SECOND READING (EPH. 4: 30 – 5: 2)

In the second reading, we can deduce that if we have decided to accept God’s offer and invitation to the Eucharist; if we have accepted to draw nearer to Him, there are certain things we must put away from our lives in order to receive the Eucharist in a worthy manner. St. Paul tells us to put away every bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice and un-forgiveness against one another; and put on kindness and love which is the fulfilment of all the commandments.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 6: 4 – 51)

In the gospel reading, we heard Jesus declare Himself as the Bread which came down from heaven; as the bread of life (everlasting life). And if we are drawn to him our Eucharist, we are also drawn to the Father who sent him, and he will raise us up on the last day as he promised. The Eucharist is Jesus Himself, the Bread of life. We must never find excuses not to accept Jesus’ offer of his Flesh and Blood in the Eucharist as the Jews did; is not Jesus the son of Joseph the carpenter; how does he now say he came down from heaven. We must never underestimate or cheaply write off the Eucharist in our lives. We must never consider the Eucharist an ordinary, ignoble bread/matter as the Jews considered Jesus an ordinary, ignoble carpenter’s son that will not amount to anything. The Eucharist carries the pledge of everlasting life and should be taken serious in our life.

 

CONCLUSION

Like Cardinal Henry Newman, nothing can be compared to one Holy Communion; no earthly position, no earthly gains can be compared to the Holy Eucharist. Nearer to the Eucharist equally amounts to; nearer to our spiritual fulfilment; nearer to strength from above; nearer to our consolation and victory; nearer to eternal life and nearer to God who grants all these through the Eucharist.

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin